Bill100Proof
02-05-2007, 12:29 AM
Have any of you ever noticed that most Heavy Metal frontmen dont know what to do with themselves onstage? Im talking about when their mouths arent open and belting out lyrics. Alot of them look like they just got taken off the street and thrown onto a stage during a Metal show. Theres usually alot of over compensating for the lack of actually holding onto something ie: a guitar, a bass, or drumsticks. The rest of the guys in the band always have something to do with their hands. The singer is just left out there in the cold during a guitar solo, or an intro, outro section. Actually, I really feel bad for these guys. I mean, all they got for an instrument is their voice, and a mic. Theyre wide open for all to see. Guitar players can always throw out some cool move, or whatever. The drummer is almost totally hidden, so hes safe, but the singer is always left to his own devices and it usually comes off looking wierd.
So to help all the awkward frontmen out there, Ive compiled a list of things that will keep them from looking so out of place while their mouths are shut. Here goes:
#1- If all you have in your hands is a mic, get something else in your hands. Have a cart with some beers on it at the side of the stage. Phil Anselmo was notorious for this. During a solo, or some other part where your not involved, get involved. Start handing out beers to the people in the front row. Hell, throw them out to the people in the back. All eyes are still on you, and people are still having fun.
#2- Be dominant! Your the god damned singer, the leader, you control the crowd. Corey Taylor of Slipknot is a genious at this. During solo, or drum breakdown, Corey is turning the crowd into a riot! Ive never seen any other singer have as much control over an audience than Corey. Whether its 5,000 or 75,000, Corey can turn any crowd from insane, to fucking psychotic!
#3- Dont do the "rocking out thing" with the damn guitar player while hes soloing! God damn nothing pisses me off more than when a frontman does this. Your not helping him play the solo or the riff any better by standing right next to him a mimicing his moves. Get the fuck out of there! he can handle it himself, thats why hes the guitar player. Be your own guy on stage. Let everyone else do their damn jobs. Case in point, Vince Neil. If his mouth aint moving, its guaranteed that hes no further than 1 foot away from Mick, Nikki, or Tommy. Well, maybe not Tommy, but you get what I mean.
#4- Get the crowd involved in the song. I know alot of people hate it when the singer has the crowd sing a chorus or start a chant during the song, but the fact is that more people are singing or chanting than not. People love to sing along, it makes them feel like they are apart of the band for that one moment. Dave Mustaine is a master at this. Daves signature line before a chorus that he wants the crowd to sing is "Sing for me!" This is perfect! Hes telling the crowd that he wants them to sing his own song to him, and show him how much they 1 know the song, and 2 love the music. Any Megadeth fan knows when you hear Dave say "sing for me", its time to belt out some lyrics as loud as you fucking can! Everyone loves to sing, even if you cant, you always sound good with a few thousand singing along with you.
And finally, #5- For the love of all that is Metal! Dont act like your above the crowd. Just cuz people paid hard earned cash to come see you sing, doesnt mean they want to get yelled at and barrated from the stage. It always seems in alot of the live shows Ive seen that when a solo is going on and the singer is left with nothing to do, thats when stupid shit happens. A water bottle gets thrown onstage, the singer sees something or someone in the crowd that he doesnt like, or maybe he just had a bad day and decides to tee off on someone, who knows? But this is the time when most singers will stop a show just to yell at someone and think its ok just because he has a mic. Your not god! The only thing yelling at audience members during a show ill get you is less people at the next show. If theres something fucked up going on in the crowd, yell at one of the security guys to take care of it. Thats their job, they get paid for it. You dont get paid to yell and scream at the crowd in a deragatory manner.
Thats about it. Ive thought about this subject for a long time and I think following these 5 rules will save any singer alot of awkwardness, humiliation, and respect. Are these rules set in stone? No. Am I an expert on frontman etiquette? No. Have I been to countless Metal shows, watched countless Metal videos, read countless articles about Metal frontmen? YES! Im of the opinion that if more Metal frontmen just listened and fed off their fans, they wouldnt end up looking so out of place onstage while not singing.
Heres a list of MY top 5 Metal frontmen of all time:
#5- Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Stone Sour
#4- Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden
#3- Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath
#2- Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Halford, Fight
#1- Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, MD.45
So do you feel the same way about metal frontmen? Do you agree with my guidlines on how NOT to be a typical frontman? And who are your top 5 frontmen of all time? Have at it kids!
Horns High
Bill
So to help all the awkward frontmen out there, Ive compiled a list of things that will keep them from looking so out of place while their mouths are shut. Here goes:
#1- If all you have in your hands is a mic, get something else in your hands. Have a cart with some beers on it at the side of the stage. Phil Anselmo was notorious for this. During a solo, or some other part where your not involved, get involved. Start handing out beers to the people in the front row. Hell, throw them out to the people in the back. All eyes are still on you, and people are still having fun.
#2- Be dominant! Your the god damned singer, the leader, you control the crowd. Corey Taylor of Slipknot is a genious at this. During solo, or drum breakdown, Corey is turning the crowd into a riot! Ive never seen any other singer have as much control over an audience than Corey. Whether its 5,000 or 75,000, Corey can turn any crowd from insane, to fucking psychotic!
#3- Dont do the "rocking out thing" with the damn guitar player while hes soloing! God damn nothing pisses me off more than when a frontman does this. Your not helping him play the solo or the riff any better by standing right next to him a mimicing his moves. Get the fuck out of there! he can handle it himself, thats why hes the guitar player. Be your own guy on stage. Let everyone else do their damn jobs. Case in point, Vince Neil. If his mouth aint moving, its guaranteed that hes no further than 1 foot away from Mick, Nikki, or Tommy. Well, maybe not Tommy, but you get what I mean.
#4- Get the crowd involved in the song. I know alot of people hate it when the singer has the crowd sing a chorus or start a chant during the song, but the fact is that more people are singing or chanting than not. People love to sing along, it makes them feel like they are apart of the band for that one moment. Dave Mustaine is a master at this. Daves signature line before a chorus that he wants the crowd to sing is "Sing for me!" This is perfect! Hes telling the crowd that he wants them to sing his own song to him, and show him how much they 1 know the song, and 2 love the music. Any Megadeth fan knows when you hear Dave say "sing for me", its time to belt out some lyrics as loud as you fucking can! Everyone loves to sing, even if you cant, you always sound good with a few thousand singing along with you.
And finally, #5- For the love of all that is Metal! Dont act like your above the crowd. Just cuz people paid hard earned cash to come see you sing, doesnt mean they want to get yelled at and barrated from the stage. It always seems in alot of the live shows Ive seen that when a solo is going on and the singer is left with nothing to do, thats when stupid shit happens. A water bottle gets thrown onstage, the singer sees something or someone in the crowd that he doesnt like, or maybe he just had a bad day and decides to tee off on someone, who knows? But this is the time when most singers will stop a show just to yell at someone and think its ok just because he has a mic. Your not god! The only thing yelling at audience members during a show ill get you is less people at the next show. If theres something fucked up going on in the crowd, yell at one of the security guys to take care of it. Thats their job, they get paid for it. You dont get paid to yell and scream at the crowd in a deragatory manner.
Thats about it. Ive thought about this subject for a long time and I think following these 5 rules will save any singer alot of awkwardness, humiliation, and respect. Are these rules set in stone? No. Am I an expert on frontman etiquette? No. Have I been to countless Metal shows, watched countless Metal videos, read countless articles about Metal frontmen? YES! Im of the opinion that if more Metal frontmen just listened and fed off their fans, they wouldnt end up looking so out of place onstage while not singing.
Heres a list of MY top 5 Metal frontmen of all time:
#5- Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Stone Sour
#4- Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden
#3- Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath
#2- Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Halford, Fight
#1- Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, MD.45
So do you feel the same way about metal frontmen? Do you agree with my guidlines on how NOT to be a typical frontman? And who are your top 5 frontmen of all time? Have at it kids!
Horns High
Bill